Maserati is doubling down on the performance of its sedans. “Trofeo” has been a byword for the fastest and most powerful version of Maserati’s Levante SUV for a while now, but the Italian brand is finally bestowing the Trofeo badge on both the 2021 Ghibli and the 2021 Quattroporte sedans. While the Levante Trofeo remains unchanged, the Trofeo upgrades to the two sedans are extensive, and both now boast top speeds of 203 mph, making them the fastest production sedans Maserati has ever made.
That incredible top speed comes as a result of what’s under the new Trofeo models’ hoods: A Ferrari-built, twin-turbo 3.8-liter V-8 cranking out 580 horsepower and 538 lb-ft of torque. A version of this engine made an appearance in the now-dead Quattroporte GTS, but the Trofeos’ new V-8 is more potent.
All that power is routed through a ZF eight-speed automatic gearbox to the rear wheels—no fancy switchable all-wheel-drive systems here. Just a V-8 up front and a pair of driven rear wheels with a limited slip differential between them, exactly as DaVinci himself (probably, maybe) intended. Both Trofeos will come with launch control, and Maserati says the rip from zero to 60 mph should be dealt with in 4.0 seconds for the Ghibli Trofeo and 4.2 seconds for the Quattroporte Trofeo.
Suspension setups for both cars are double control arms up front with a multilink setup at the rear, and both cars are suspended by Maserati’s adjustable “Skyhook” dampers at all four corners. Both sedans feature a new Integrated Vehicle Control unit, and Maserati says it “guarantees enhanced driving dynamics” and thrilling performance. For now all we can do is look at the new Masers—any handing out of speed trofeos will have to wait for our putting those performance claims to the test.
Both the Ghibli and Quattroporte Trofeo feature a number of visual updates to set them apart from the rest of their respective lineups. Both get deeper and more aggressive front fascias, blacked-out grilles, rear diffusers with a quad-outlet exhaust, red accents on the fender vents, and Maserati’s trident badges with red accenting on their C-pillars. Inside, both sedans get an upgraded 10.1-inch infotainment setup, full-grain Pieno Fiore natural leather, and some special badging on the headrests.
There’s no word on pricing yet, but both the Ghibli and the Quattroporte Trofeos are expected to sit atop their respective ranges and will no doubt be priced accordingly.
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